Could I Do Any Pruning On My Knockout Rose Bushes…
Ladonna Asked
Could I do any pruning on my Knockout rose bushes now instead of waiting until early spring?
The Gardener’s Answer
Hello, Ladonna: If your roses are a constant source of scratch marks because they are too large for the space, you can certainly trim them back now. The downside to trimming now is that this may encourage new growth and the tender new growth can be damaged by any early frosts. You may also be removing potential flowers but they are prolific bloomers, so this should not be too much of a concern. If you have to prune them now, go ahead and do so but then to maintain the size you want them to be, future prunings should be done while they are dormant, late winter or early spring, before the new growth begins. Dead or diseased canes can be removed any time of the year.
